scholarly journals Association of Psychosocial Symptoms, Blood Pressure, and Menopausal Status in African-American Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 784-794
Author(s):  
Carolyn H. Still ◽  
Sadia Tahir ◽  
Hossein N. Yarandi ◽  
Mona Hassan ◽  
Faye A. Gary
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Menopausal Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
American Women ◽  
Menopausal Women ◽  
Analyze Data

African-American women have disproportionate rates of hypertension that can be further complicated as they transition through menopause. Stress, coupled with depression and hypertension in perimenopausal African-American women has not been fully explored. This study examines the associations of stress, depression, and social support on systolic blood pressure (SBP) among a sample of 184 perimenopausal African-American women. We used descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and logistic regression to analyze data stratified by menopausal status (perimenopausal or menopausal) and SBP status (<130 mmHg vs. >130 mmHg). Women classified as menopausal reported higher levels of stress and depressive symptoms, and lower levels of social support. Age, body mass index (BMI), health insurance, and perceived health status were significant predictors of SBP in menopausal women. Stress, depression, and social support did not play a role in SBP. It is necessary that future research focus on reducing cardiovascular risk include addressing menopausal health.

scholarly journals Gene-Environment Interaction for Hypertension Among African American Women Across Generations

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn Y. Taylor ◽  
Yan V. Sun ◽  
Steven C. Hunt ◽  
Sharon L.R. Kardia
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Cytosolic Calcium ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Chromosome 2 ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Offspring Cohort ◽  
American Women

African American women have the highest prevalence of hypertension and obesity of any group in the United States. African American girls have the highest incidence of obesity of any groups of children in the nation, and diagnoses of hypertension have been rising among this group. Because both genetic heredity and body mass index (BMI) are important risk factors for hypertension, this study examined the gene-BMI interaction for hypertension across the lifespan in two generations of African American women. Participants comprised of 868 African American women in the parent cohort and 322 in the offspring cohort from the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network (HyperGEN) study, part of the Family Blood Pressure Program (FBPP). A total of 115 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated among the parent cohort and 491 among the offspring cohort for tests of SNP-BMI interaction using methods of false discovery rate (FDR; <.20) and examination of minor allele frequency (MAF; >.05) and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (>.10). One SNP (located in the CAPN 13 gene, rs1879282) passed adjustments for the multiple testing mentioned above and had a significant (p < .01) gene-BMI interaction on both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among African American female offspring. The rs1879282 SNP is located on chromosome 2 on the calpain (CAPN) 13 gene, which is part of a family of cytosolic calcium-activated proteases involved in apoptosis, cell division, modulation of integrin—cytoskeletal interactions, and synaptic plasticity. This SNP was not available for testing in the African American parent cohort.

scholarly journals Determinants of Mammographic Breast Density by Race Among a Large Screening Population

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Xavier Moore ◽  
Yunan Han ◽  
Catherine Appleton ◽  
Graham Colditz ◽  
Adetunji T Toriola
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Breast Density ◽  
White Women ◽  
Menopausal Status ◽  
Dense Breast ◽  
Mammographic Breast Density ◽  
Age At First Birth ◽  
American Women ◽  
Hispanic White

Abstract BACKGROUND Due to mixed reports from smaller studies, we examined associations of race with mammographic breast density and evaluated racial differences in the determinants of breast density. METHODS Participants included 37,839 women (23,166 non-Hispanic White, and 14,673 African American women) receiving screening mammograms at the Joanne Knight Breast Health Center at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri from June 2010 to December 2015. Mammographic breast density was assessed using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (5th edition). To determine the association of race and participant characteristics with mammographic breast density, we used multivariable polytomous logistic regression models (reference group: almost entirely fatty). RESULTS African American women had increased odds of extremely dense (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13–1.52) and reduced odds of heterogeneously dense breasts (AOR= 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84 – 0.99) compared to non-Hispanic White women. Altogether, race, parity and age at first birth, age, current body mass index (BMI), BMI at age 18, menarche, family history of breast cancer, oral contraceptive use, alcohol, and menopausal status explained 33% of the variation in mammographic breast density. Among African American and non-Hispanic White women these factors explained nearly 28.6% and 33.6% of the variation in mammographic density, respectively. Current BMI provided the greatest explanation of breast density (26.2% overall, 22.2% in African American, and 26.2% in non-Hispanic White women). CONCLUSIONS The determinants of mammographic breast density were generally similar between African-American women and non-Hispanic white women. After adjustments for confounders, African Americans had higher likelihood of extremely dense breast but lower likelihood of heterogeneously dense breast. The greatest explanation of breast density was provided by BMI, regardless of race.

scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Risks for High Blood Pressure Among African American Mothers and Daughters

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn Y. Taylor ◽  
Rosanna Maddox ◽  
Chun Yi Wu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Buccal Swab ◽  
African American Mothers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mothers And Daughters ◽  
American Women

Objective: To determine the relationship between genetic and environmental lifestyle factors (physical activity and sodium) on blood pressure (BP) among African-American women. Method: In this cross-sectional study involving 108 African-American mothers and daughters from a Midwestern area, investigators obtained BP measurements, information on minutes of physical activity, amount of sodium intake, and buccal swab saliva samples. Results: Of the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the sodium bicarbonate cotransporter gene (SLC4A5), rs8179526 had a statistically significant interaction with cytosine/thymine (C/T) genotype by sodium status on systolic BP (SBP; p = .0077). For gene × physical activity interaction, 2 significant interactions (cytosine/adenine [C/A] genotype by physical activity and adenine/adenine [A/A] genotype by physical activity, p = .0107 and p = .0171, respectively) on SBP and 1 on diastolic BP (DBP; A/A genotype by physical activity, p = .0233) were found on rs1017783. Two significant guanine/adenine [G/A] genotype by physical activity interactions were found on rs6731545 for SBP and DBP (p = .0160 and p = .0492, respectively). Discussion: A gene × environmental interaction with rs8179526 has a protective effect on SBP in African-American women with high sodium intake. Participants with C/T genotype of rs8179526 who consumed greater than 2,300 mg of sodium had lower SBP than those who consumed less than recommended. Women with thymine/thymine (T/T) genotype of rs8179526 who consumed greater than 2,300 mg had lower SBP than those who consumed less. Awareness of both the protective and deleterious properties of rs8179526 in African-American women may one day assist in determining appropriate treatment plans.

Social Support, Stress and Social Network Characteristics Among HIV-Positive Latino and African American Women and Men Who have Sex with Men

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1149-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Rock Wohl ◽  
Frank H. Galvan ◽  
Hector F. Myers ◽  
Wendy Garland ◽  
Sheba George ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
African American ◽  
Social Network ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
American Women ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Sex With Men

Social support, attachment, and drug misuse in suicidal African American women

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara M. D’Orio ◽  
Martie P. Thompson ◽  
Dorian A. Lamis ◽  
Sheryl Heron ◽  
Nadine J. Kaslow
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
American Women

The character of womanhood: How African American women’s perceptions of womanhood influence marriage and motherhood

Ethnicities ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Chaney
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Black Women ◽  
African American Women ◽  
White Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Black Feminist ◽  
American Women ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
The Family ◽  
Women’S Perceptions

This qualitative paper will focus on how black women understand and perceive womanhood, and will explore how black women’s perceptions regarding womanhood shape their attitudes and behaviours toward marriage and motherhood. Using a black feminist approach, I assert that black women’s perceptions of womanhood are not based on European notions as the family structure and experiences of African American women is characteristically different from that of white women. Further, I assert that African American women create a modified version of womanhood based on their education, social class and economic position in relation to black men, and which may, in turn, inform their decisions regarding marriage and motherhood. Specifically, I examine the written responses of fifteen African American women between the ages of 18 and 55 (mean age of 32.6 years) regarding what is expected of them as women. Qualitative analyses of the data revealed that womanhood was defined in terms of feminine attitudes (strength, sensitivity and sensuality) and feminine behaviours (familial care, their own physical appearance and self-respect). In addition, womanhood was demonstrated through a woman’s ability to care for her home and to take the lead in the absence of male leadership. Supporting qualitative data are presented in connection with each theme. Recommendations for future research are also provided.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document